On Saturday (January 4), Iran’s Foreign Minister issued a warning during an interview with China’s state media. The report was published by the Times of Israel.
In his statement, the Iranian Foreign Minister said, “We are fully prepared for any aggression from Israel. I hope Israel does not take such reckless actions that could lead to a major war.”
Previously, in 2024, Israel launched two direct attacks on Iran. The first occurred in October when Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles, most of which were intercepted by Israel’s defense systems. In response, Israeli fighter jets targeted Iranian military installations.
In April of the same year, Israel carried out another attack near an Iranian nuclear facility, targeting an air defense battery. This was in response to nearly 300 drones and missile strikes launched by Iran.
The Foreign Minister further stated that Iran would handle the situation through diplomatic means and consult with allied nations before making decisions. He added, “We believe reason and logic will ultimately prevail, reducing the likelihood of a major conflict.”
Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Minister is on a two-day state visit to China, where he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. During the meeting, discussions were held on Iran’s nuclear program. China opposed the sanctions on Iran and supported the 2015 nuclear agreement.
China’s Foreign Minister stated, “We firmly stand by Iran in protecting its legitimate rights and interests.” Currently, China is Iran’s largest trading partner and the top buyer of Iranian oil despite the sanctions.
On the other hand, Israel’s Mossad Chief David Barnea recently informed the country’s cabinet, “We must directly target Iran. Attacking only the Houthis will not solve the problem.”
Notably, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, using Iranian-supplied weapons, have recently launched multiple missiles into Israeli territory, forcing millions of Israelis to seek shelter.
Iran has consistently denied such allegations, though Western forces have repeatedly intercepted weapons sent by Iran to the Houthis.
The global tension surrounding Iran’s position and the potential for conflict continues to escalate. The Iranian Foreign Minister’s statement makes it clear that Iran is prepared to respond to any attack from Israel.